Partitioned hat box



Sept. 17, 1963 J. c. PENCE 3,104,010

PARTITIONED HAT'BOX Filed Sept. 14, 1962 INVENTOR QQQQQ- QENQE BY I ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,104,010 PARTITIONED HAT BOX Joan C. Pence, Rte. 2, York, Nebr. Filed Sept. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 223,635 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-9) The present invention relates to a box for holding objects such as hats, and more particularly to such a box having dividers and partitions therein to enable the box to support one or more articles, such as hats, depending upon the size or sizes thereof.

Hat boxes are commonly manufactured and used for storing hats (and similar objects), these boxes typically being made of cardboard or pasteboard. Such hat boxes are intended to hold, usually, only a single hat, such as a regulation mans hat or a tall womans hat. However, it is often desirable to make maximum use of the'storage space contained within the hat box, and in some cases additional hats are placed in the hat box. For example, a mans hat may be stored in the hat box and a small flat womans hat may be placed upon it. This results in denting or scufiing of one or the other of the hats, or a bending of the ornamentation of the womens hat, and so is undesirable from that standpoint.

While it has been suggested that hat boxes could be made with partitions or dividers, the constructions suggested has either limited the number of hats which may be placed within a given hat box, or has provided for storing hats on their edges, rather than in a flat position. Thus, those hat boxes previously known have had limited flexibility in the number and types of hats which they could store, and have stored the hats in undesirable positions.

In addition to storing hats, hat boxes are often used for transporting hats, as when trips are being taken and suitable hats and clothing are to accompany the person. In such cases, it is desirable that the hat boxes have suitable handles which will not only securely and positively support the hat, but which will serve to secure the lid on the hat. Those hat boxes now known have not provided for security of the lid to the extent desirable.

Particularly in connection with hat boxes which are to be used for transporting hats, it is desirable that a hat box of sturdy construction be provided, and yet be relatively economical. The prior hat boxes have been relatively flimsy, so that they would not stand up under the rough handling which often occurs during traveling, or have been unduly expensive.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hat box or the like capable of holding a number of hats of various sizes, and holding the maximum number of hats possible within the capacity of the hat box, depending upon the size or sizes of the hat or hats to be contained therein.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a hat box which is capable of supporting one or more hats in an assortment of both mens and womens hats.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hat box construction which is economical to manufacture and is made of a relatively few, readily fabricated parts.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a hat box which is capable of being utilized for traveling without danger of accidental disassembly of the lid therefrom.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a hat box having a lid which is dust proof and which will remain securely on the box.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification and drawings wherein:

FIG..1 is a vertical cross sectional view of a hat box in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2. is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like or corresponding reference numerals are used to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a hat box generally designated 10. The hat box 10, including substantially all of the parts thereof, is preferably made of a transparent material so that the contents thereof may be readily viewed. Among materials which are suitable for use in making the hat box of the present invention are polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene and polyallemer.

Hat box 10 has a bottom wall 12 and a side wall 14 extending upwardly from the periphery of bottom wall 12. Side wall 14 has a free upper edge 16 which preferably lies in a plane parallel to the bottom wall 12. A lid 18 is provided, and has a downwardly facing, circumferentially extending channel 20 which sits on the upper edge 16 of side wall 14. The material of which lid 18 is made is somewhat resilient, so that a gripping action is provided by the channel 20, thus serving to secure the lid 18 in position on the side wall 14 and to prevent dust from entering the box 10. 7

As may be seen from FIG. 2, the container 10 is pref erably cylindrical, but other shapes may be used where preferred. Within the side wall 14, and closely there adjacent, is a divider generally designated 22 and comprising an upstanding wall 24 in the form of a hollow sleeve. Wall 24 of divider 22 extends upwardly from the bottom wall 12, upon which it rests, and has an upper edge 26 which may be seen to be intermediate the bottom wall 12 and the upper edge 16 of side wall 14. Divider 22 has a partition 28 extending across it, partition 28 in the preferred embodiment being secured to the wall 24 at approximately the midpoint thereof. Secured to partition 28 of divider 22 is a handle 30 in the form of a ring-like member.

A planar support plate 32 extends laterally across the side wall 24 of container 10 and rests upon the upper edge 26 of divider 22; support plate 32 is provided with a handle 34 similar to handle 30.

On the outer side of side wall '14 of hat box 10, at oppositely disposed points, there are provided a pair of ears 36 and 38. These ears 36 and 38 are generally similar in construction, and as may be seen from FIG. 3 are made of concavely shaped pieces of material, such as the plastic materials aforementioned. As may be seen from FIG. 3, the ear 38 is provided with a slit 40'. A handle of flexible material and preferably in the form of a bead chain is provided, the handle being generally designated 42. By slipping the end beads of the bead chain 42 beneath the ears 36 and 38, handle 42 may be readily and securely attached to the hat box.

In use, the handle 42 may be placed in a position where it lies outwardly of the lid 18, and the lid may thereby be removed. To store three relatively flat hats,

handle 34 of support plate 32 is grasped to remove the support plate 32, and then handle 30* of partition 28 is grasped and the partition 22 is thereby removed. -A first small hat is then placed within the hat box 10, lying on the 'bottom 'wall 12. Then the divider 22 is replaced so as to occupy the position shown in FIG. 1. If a relatively tion, and the hat box may be either stored upon a shelf, or the like, or if it is desired to transport the hat box 10, the bead chain handle 42 will act as a lock to prevent the lid 18 from separating from the bottom portion of container 10.

Where a single tall hat is to be carried in the hat box 10, both the divider 22 and support plate 32 may be removed therefrom and the very large hat placed within the hat box 10* and the lid 18 placed thereon, as above described.

There has been provided a hat box which has great flexibility in the number and sizes of hats which may be contained therein, the hat box of the present invention accommodating one, two or three hats of varied sizes, supporting each hat individually. The hat box hereinabove described may be manufactured of economical and readily available material, utilizing known and economical manufacturing procedures. This hat box is constructed so that the lid is securely held in place on the hat box bottom portion, and is provided with a handle which serves the dual purpose of carrying the hat box and securing the lid in position against accidental dislodgement. The hat box herein provided is dust proof, so as to protect the hats therein from dust which normally drifts into even a closed box.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hat box comprising a bottom wall and side wall means extending upwardly from the periphery of said bottom wall to define a container open at one end, said side wall means having a free upper edge; a lid tor said hat box adapted to close said container, said lid having a downwardly opening channel extending continuously thereabout and disposed adjacent the periphery thereof, said channel being dimensioned to frictionally receive said free upper edge and the adjacent upper portions of said side wall means; divider means within said container eomprising upstanding rwall means and a partition, said upstanding wall means comprising a hollow sleeve having upper and lower edges disposed at least substantially parallel to one another and at least substantially parallel to said bottom wall, said partition being secured within said sleeve intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof and at least substantially parallel to said bottom wall, said upper edge of said sleeve terminating in downwardly spaced relation to said tree upper edge of said side wall means, said side wall means and said sleeve being of corresponding configuration, the lower edge of said sleeve resting on and extending entirely about the inner periphery of said bottom wall whereby said sleeve underlies continuously the adjacent portions of said side wall means, said partition having a handle loop disposed centrally thereof and facing upwardly therefrom; a support plate disposed within said container and having its periphery resting on the upper edge of said sleeve whereby compartments are formed within said container between said 4 partition and said bottom wall, said partition and said support plate, and above said support plate, said support plate having a handle loop disposed centrally thereof and facing upwardly therefrom, a pair of opposed fastening means disposed centrally on opposite sides of said side wall means adjacent the upper free edge thereof, and a flexible handle secured at opposite ends to said fastening means.

2. A hat box comprising a circular bottom wall and a cylindrical side wall means extending upwardly from the periphery of said bottom wall to define a cylindrical container open at one end, said cylindrical side wall means having a free circular upper edge; a circular lid for said hat box adapted to close said container, said lid having a downwardly opening circular channel extending continuously thereabout and disposed adjacent the periphery thereof, said channel being dimensioned to frictionally receive said free upper edge and the adjacent upper portions of said cylindrical side wall means; divider means within said container comprising upstanding Wall means and a circular partition, said upstanding wall means comprising a cylindrical hollow sleeve having upper and lower circular edges disposed parallel to one another and parallel to said bottom wall, said circular partition comprising a plate secured within said sleeve intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof and parallel to said bottom wall, said upper edge of said sleeve terminating in downwardly spaced relation to said free upper edge of said side wall means, the lower edge of said sleeve resting on and extending entirely about the inner periphery of said bottom wall whereby said sleeve and said cylindrical side wall means are concentric, said partition having a handle loop fixed thereon centrally thereof and projecting upwardly therefrom; a circular support plate disposed within said container and having its periphery resting on the upper edge of said sleeve whereby compartments are formed within said container between said partition and said bottom wall, said partition and said support plate, and said support plate and said lid, said support plate having a handle loop fixed thereon centrally thereof and projecting upwardly therefrom, a pair of opposed fastening ears disposed centrally on opposite sides of said side wall means adjacent the upper free edge thereof, said ears projecting outwardly from said side wall means and having downwardly opening slots therein and a flexible handle, said flexible handle comprising a ball chain, the balls of said chain being dimensioned to retain said chain in said slots when a ball of said chain underlies the slot in one of said ears.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 968,842 Foote Aug. 30, 1910 1,280,918 Westbrook Oct. 8, 1918 1,750,258 Brown Mar. 11, 1930 2,466,605 Marcus Apr. 5, 1949 2,706,555 Radile Apr. 19, 1955 2,714,972 Potts Aug. 9, 1955 

2. A HAT BOX COMPRISING A CIRCULAR BOTTOM WALL AND A CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL MEANS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BOTTOM WALL TO DEFINE A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER OPEN AT ONE END, SAID CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL MEANS HAVING A FREE CIRCULAR UPPER EDGE; A CIRCULAR LID FOR SAID HAT BOX ADAPTED TO CLOSE SAID CONTAINER, SAID LID HAVING A DOWNWARDLY OPENING CIRCULAR CHANNEL EXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY THEREABOUT AND DISPOSED ADJACENT THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, SAID CHANNEL BEING DIMENSIONED TO FRICTIONALLY RECEIVE SAID FREE UPPER EDGE AND THE ADJACENT UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL MEANS; DIVIDER MEANS WITHIN SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING UPSTANDING WALL MEANS AND A CIRCULAR PARTITION, SAID UPSTANDING WALL MEANS COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL HOLLOW SLEEVE HAVING UPPER AND LOWER CIRCULAR EDGES DISPOSED PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER AND PARALLEL TO SAID BOTTOM WALL, SAID CIRCULAR PARTITION COMPRISING A PLATE SECURED WITHIN SAID SLEEVE INTERMEDIATE THE UPPER AND LOWER EDGES THEREOF AND PARALLEL TO SAID BOTTOM WALL, SAID UPPER EDGE OF SAID SLEEVE TERMINATING IN DOWNWARDLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID FREE UPPER EDGE OF SAID SIDE WALL MEANS, THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID SLEEVE RESTING ON AND EXTENDING ENTIRELY ABOUT THE INNER PERIPHERY OF SAID BOTTOM WALL WHEREBY SAID SLEEVE AND SAID CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL MEANS ARE CONCENTRIC, SAID PARTITION HAVING A HANDLE LOOP FIXED THEREON CENTRALLY THEREOF AND PROJECTING UPWARDLY THEREFROM; A CIRCULAR SUPPORT PLATE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AND HAVING ITS PERIPHERY RESTING ON THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID SLEEVE WHEREBY COMPARTMENTS ARE FORMED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER BETWEEN SAID PARTITION AND SAID BOTTOM WALL, SAID PARTITION AND SAID SUPPORT PLATE, AND SAID SUPPORT PLATE AND SAID LID, SAID SUPPORT PLATE HAVING A HANDLE LOOP FIXED THEREON CENTRALLY THEREOF AND PROJECTING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, A PAIR OF OPPOSED FASTENING EARS DISPOSED CENTRALLY ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SIDE WALL MEANS ADJACENT THE UPPER FREE EDGE THEREOF, SAID EARS PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID SIDE WALL MEANS AND HAVING DOWNWARDLY OPENING SLOTS THEREIN AND A FLEXIBLE HANDLE, SAID FLEXIBLE HANDLE COMPRISING A BALL CHAIN, THE BALLS OF SAID CHAIN BEING DIMENSIONED TO RETAIN SAID CHAIN IN SAID SLOTS WHEN A BALL OF SAID CHAIN UNDERLIES THE SLOT IN ONE OF SAID EARS. 